George Washington, painted by Gilbert Stuart around 1796. This is the image that shaped how generations picture the first President of the United States. The powdered hair, the dark coat, the white cravat, and the steady, restrained expression all reflect the dignity expected of a Revolutionary War general turned head of state. Stuart’s portrait was never fully completed, yet it became the foundation for countless engravings, reproductions, and even the image used on the U.S. one-dollar bill. It